From the Lakota Sioux Sweat Lodge

Endurance, cleanliness,
strength, purity
Will keep our lives straight
Our actions only for a good
purpose.
Our words will be truth.
Only honesty shall come from our interaction
With all things.

(From the Lakota Sioux Sweat Lodge ceremony entry in Prayers for Healing: 365 Blessings, Poems, & Meditations)

Read more about Sweat Lodge ceremonies here.

Hillary and Her Forerunners in South America

If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination and goes on to win the presidential election in November, she would join the company of two powerful women leaders who rule in South America--Chile's Michelle Bachelet and Argentina's Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Bachelet, who has served as Chile's president for two years now, is a 54-year-old single mother and pediatrician who suffered imprisonment, torture, and exile under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

Fernandez won the Argentinan election in October and replaced her husband, Nestor Kirchner, as leader of that country last month. The handing of the baton from one Kirchner to another is reminiscent of Juan and Eva Peron (known affectionately as Evita). Of course commentators, politicians, and others have talked about the strong similarities between Fernandez, a lawyer and senator who followed her husband, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A November 2007 New York Times article says that Fernandez is quite frequently compared to Hillary. Fernandez has openly said that Hillary is her idol, but figures show that Fernandez may have had an easier time of it in Argentina than Hillary may have in America. The New York Times article goes on to say this:

But even as Mrs. Kirchner (Fernandez) has looked north for inspiration, there are parts of Latin America that have been more successful than the United States in achieving gender equity. Women made up 39 percent of the legislatures in both Argentina and Costa Rica last year, while they accounted for only 16 percent of Congressional seats in the United States, according to the Inter-American Dialogue. And Mrs. Clinton’s current run notwithstanding, America has yet to elect a female president.

Looks like Hillary would have some sisters to relate to down in South America if she wins the whole shebang in November. That's a big "if" though. Let's see what happens.

Thoughts on Huckabee, Obama, and Hillary

I hate to admit this but I haven't really started paying much attention to the Presidential Primaries until now. Today I got a good look at Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee and the suave Senator from Illinois--Barack Obama on CPAN's coverage of the day before the New Hampshire primaries.

What struck me about Huckabee was his use of Star Parker (someone I had honestly never heard of until today). Parker gave a heartfelt and passionate endorsement and introduction to the former Arkansas governor. Star is a conservative commentator and founder of CURE, the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education, a non-profit organization. Press releases and articles also repeatedly mention the fact that she was a single mother who was on welfare for a time.

Anyway, Star is really excited about her pal Huckabee. Let's see what she's so psyched about:

Huckabee is evidently all about equal education for all of America's children and pointed to the fact that he can give Ms. Parker a hug and not be chastised by anyone for it. (He's alluding here to the fact that Ms. Parker is black and he is white.)......OK??....... Huckabee also let it be known that he is "pro-life." He believes that Roe v. Wade should be over-turned.

And here's a little something from Mr. Huckabee's Web site that tells me that even if I were persuaded to ever vote Republican, he wouldn't get my vote:

I support the $3 billion the Senate has voted for border security. This money will train and deploy 23,000 more agents, add four drone planes, build 700 miles of fence and 300 miles of vehicle barriers, and put up 105 radar and camera towers. This money will turn "catch and release" into "catch and detain" of those entering illegally, and crack down on those who overstay their visas.

(This money could be spent on fixing our education system, universal healthcare, and/or creating more jobs!)

Now for Obama.

I already know a lot about Obama as I'm sure many of you do. I read Dreams from My Father and I've been excited to hear a lot more from this candidate. Here are just a few tidbits of his speech in New Hampshire last night:

- Obama said a lot of politicians and the press are mocking him for talking so much about "hope." He said, "My father left me when I was two. My mother raised me to have hope." (Well alright!)

- He expressed concern about Global Warming and admitted that dealing with the climate changes in the world would be costly, but he's planning to address the issue.
( I just saw Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth, so I understand now what all the fuss is about.)

- Obama said he wants to make sure that we don't have any homeless veterans on the streets. (I'm hoping this extends to the other homeless individuals and families who cling to the streets because they don't have homes.)

- "I've seen this country led into war because of fear and falsehood." (You said it B.) Here's Obama's plan (from his Web site) for the war if he wins:

Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.

And finally, a lot of people have criticized Hillary Clinton for crying today when she talked about her hard fight in the race, her love for the country and its people. Can't a woman express herself with a little emotion sometimes? Man!

When I told my 5-year-old daughter that no woman has ever been president of the United States and that if she's elected, Hillary Clinton would be the first woman president, she said it's not fair that a woman hasn't been president. "We need some women to be president too!" she said.

Order My Steps

Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
--Psalm 119:133 (King James Version)

Order My Steps (Spiritual)

(Chorus)
Order my steps in your word dear Lord
Lead me guide me everyday
Send your anointing father I pray
Order my steps in your word
Please, order my steps in your word
(Repeat)

Humbly I ask thee teach me your will
While you are working help me be still
Satan is busy God is real
Order my steps in your word
Please, order my steps in your word

Write on my tongue let my words edify
Let the words of my mouth be exceptable in thy sight
Take charge of my thoughts both day and night
Please order my steps in your word
Please order my steps in your word

(Repeat Chorus)

I want to walk worthy (pause) my calling to fulfill
Please order my steps Lord .... and I'll do your blessed will
The world is ever changing (pause) but you are still the same
If you order my steps (pause) I'll praise your name
(Repeat)

(Vamp)
Order my steps (pause) in your word
Order my tongue (pause) in your word
Guide my feet (pause) in your word
Wash my heart (pause) in your word
Show me how to walk (pause) in your word
Show me how to talk (pause) in your word
When I need a brand new song to sing
Show me how to let your praises ring

In your word .....
In your word .....
Please order my steps in your word
Please order my steps in your word

Click here to hear the The Milbourne Family Choir sing this powerful tune.

Teach Us to Pray

Our Father (in Gullah)

We Fada wa dey een heaben,
leh ebrybody hona ya nyame.
We pray dat soon ya gwine
rule oba de wol.
Wasoneba ting ya wahn,
leh um be so een dis wol
same like dey een heaben.
Gii we de food wa we need
dis day yah an ebry day.
Fagib we fa we sin,
same like we da fagib dem people
wa do bad ta we.
Leh we dohn hab haad test
wen Satan try we.
Keep we fom ebil.

Mirror Trick/A Slight of Hand

A Wise person told me that there was some wickedness, concealed intentions, and half truths swirling around me in early 2007. Those ill winds followed me for a time, but now the tide has shifted. I am being cleansed and the light will continue to shine for me. The darkness brought on by disturbed sirens and silence has been swept away from me. I am more knowledgable now then I've every been. (... Now I see.) Praise God. I am a Victor and God is all knowing.

Ra, Maa, and Other Observations

I’ve made some observations and intriguing findings as an English as a Second Language teacher for the past few months. As some of my classes come to a close, I’ll share with you what some of my students have taught me.

One exercise that I had many of my students do was to write sentences describing things they do every day. A, a man from Tanzania, wrote:

I like to thank our God every day.

What I like about this sentence is that he says he likes to thank God and he acknowledges that God is here for us all when he says our God.

A and his wife J have an infant son who they sometimes dress in pink clothes or clothes with shades of pink in them. I would imagine that in their country, pink is not a color assigned to only girls. Also, I saw A wearing a pink wrist band the other day. He didn’t seem to think anything of it. I’ve seen some of the other boy children wearing colors like pink, lavender, and some other fashions that were perhaps meant for girls. I’m sure a lot of the clothes were given to them and they simply don’t care what color the clothes are, as long as they keep the children warm. These are little babies and toddlers. What difference does it make what colors they're wearing?

E, a student of mine from Moldolva who is studying ESL for Citizenship, created a sentence during one class that mentioned “the war between Germany and Russia.” She was referring to World War II, but she sees it through the eyes of a six-year-old girl from Moldolva. That’s how old she was when she experienced the trauma of the war. I asked her, “What do you remember?” to get her to talk more in English. She talked about the bombs, the friendly soldiers who gave them food, and hiding in a basement-like section of her house. Then her voice faltered as she talked about how German soldiers killed her father when she was six. She actually saw it happen. As she was talking I knew she was close to crying, but I encouraged her to talk anyway. I had never heard her speak so well in English. I hugged her when didn’t seem to be able to go on with the story. We all sat silently for a brief time and continued with the lesson. Isn’t it amazing how a memory that’s so old can trigger such emotion? Of course, this particular memory was probably her most vivid and traumatic.

This week I started teaching a student from the Congo — F, a soon-to-be French teacher for Charlotte's public school system.

F is also studying metaphysical science. I’ve learned some profound lessons about natural laws, auras, and some other topics like karma—-a pretty universal concept that says you get back what you give. In other words, what you put out there comes back to you—-sometimes twice as strong. F said that God will not say, “Oh, it’s OK. You didn’t know that was wrong.” You’ll get the thing back anyway.

He also talked about the concept of Ra and Maa. Evidently Ra is the male energy and Maa is the feminine energy. He said that I’m congested because I have too much Ra right now. Hmmmmmmm. I’ll have to look more into that. (Actually I’ve started doing some Maa chants. I hope it'll clear the congestion in my chest.) Let’s see what happens.

And finally, here’s a quote that was left on the board in the room where my morning class is held. It’s really quite profound.

“Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about things that matter.”
-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Freedom to the Prisoners

Psalm 146:3-9
(New King James Version)

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous.

Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the orphans and widows;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

Se7en and Other Screenplays for You

I found out that the film course that I want to take at The Light Factory starts in February. As I get psyched for the class, I'm paying more attention to films lately —how they’re edited, the dialogue, the fine or poor acting. Also, I've been reading novels that have been made into movies. Right now I’m reading Stephen King’s short story "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." It’s amazing how much of that story is actually in the film. I think King’s work has the kind of definitive voices and rich images that potentially make for provocative and powerful films.

For you film lovers out there, here’s a Web site that includes, what must be, hundreds of screenplays — it’s called Screenplays for You. All you have to do is click on the title of the work and read. Here's a sample from one of my favorites:

Se7en (1995)
by Andrew Kevin Walker

EXT. CITY STREET -- NIGHT

Somerset carries his suitcase outside the train station. The
city demands attention: cars screeching, people yelling, sirens
blaring.

Somerset passes a family of bewildered tourists. A WEIRD MAN has
a hand on the tourist-father's suitcase.

It has become a tugging match with the Weird Man shouting, "I'll
take you to a taxi... I'll take you." Ahead, a group is gathered
on the sidewalk near two ambulances. People clamor to get a look
at a BLOODY BODY which lies on the street.

Policeman try to hold the crowd off. Ambulance attendants
administer aid to the victim, who convulses. Somerset moves by,
ignoring it all. He motions for a cab. One pulls up from the
street's stream of vehicles.

INT. CAB -- NIGHT

Somerset throws his suitcase in and shuts the door behind him.

CAB DRIVER
(about the crowd)
What's the big fuss?

Somerset looks out at the crowd, looks at the driver.

SOMERSET
Why do you care?

CAB DRIVER
(under his breath)
Well, excuse me all to hell.

The driver leans forward, checking it out. The circle of
spectators shifts suddenly. A man has shoved another man and
they're really going at it now. The swing at each other and tear
at each other's clothing. One man's flailing fist connects and
the other man's face is instantly bloodied. The fight grows even
more spastic. Policemen try to stop it.

CAB DRIVER
Crazy f****.

The driver pulls away and the cab rages down the street.
Somerset watches the parade of neon passing on the avenue. He
slumps back in the seat and closes his eyes.

CAB DRIVER
Where you headed?
(Somerset opens his eyes.)

SOMERSET
Far away from here.

Back on the Block

Another mess has occurred in my old neighborhood up in Delaware. A woman from Wilmington must have seen the article about the shooting that happened last night in Rosegate. She was searching for information on my old stomping grounds and found this blog and the stories I've written about Rosegate. She then sent me the News Journal link which tells the sad story of an 18-year-old man who shot a 34-year-old man on the first block of Thorn Court in the Rosegate community (across the street from our old house). The teenager is wanted for first-degree attempted murder, possession of a firearm during a felony and possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited.

The article says "he should be considered armed and dangerous." No kidding.

I'll have to keep Rosegate and its people in my prayers, including my parents who live real close to the place now.

Here are my past posts on "The Gate:"

Where We Come From: Rosegate

More Trouble in Rosegate